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designed
and hosted by eldide
last updated 08.06.10
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Here you'll find some of the comments people have said about the music or compilations the music has appeared on.
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Axis Mundi - Scene Networks
After over a dozen smashing releases in just under 10 years, Organic Records is about to unveil another frosty downtempo hit... "Universal Flow" by none other than Perpetual Loop! As with Organic's earlier groundwork albums, Perpetual Loop can be expected to lead you on a mystifying musical journey through the psyche aboard a vehicle of some of the most chilled out world beats and magic carpets of synth atmospheres. Since Organic's first chillout release, "Psymeditation" topped people's choice charts, the label directive has been more than ever to deliver epiphany-inspiring albums with rich spiritual content above being simply great music. "Universal Flow" definitely fits that bill, and immersed within this amazing album are virtual teleportation devices to other places and times, some real, yet at the same time, wholly unimagined... until now. So leave your preconceptions at the door and let the Flow grab hold of you... Perpetual Loop style!
For over fifteen years, Perpetual Loop, better known as Charles Massey, has been delivering some of the most innovative and original sounds to the dancefloors and crowds of the UK and elsewhere in the world. A true fusion artist, Charles is classically trained in the cello and piano, combining symphonic masterpieces with beats and percussion harvested from all over the world and the infinite potential of the world of digital synthesis to create some of the most genuine and organic electronic-based arrangements out there to date. Blending his other love of film and cinematography with his far-reaching musical experience, Charles moved to London from Manchester in 1999 and worked on countless projects and collaborations with media producers and filmmakers before releasing his debut release, "Gateway To The Sun" alongside names like Eat Static, Ganja Beats, Michael Dog and Organic's own founder, Chris Organic. In 2004 he released a second track on the now-infamous "Psymeditation" release under Organic Recs and now, only recently, two more tracks on that compilation's sequel, "Psymeditation2". "Universal Flow" is Perpetual Loops maiden album, and he and the Organic label are very proud of it. For those who like a little something more to your music, check this one out... Perpetual Loop's sonic manipulation talent is astounding, impressive and inspiring.
Track By Track
Psyabai
This intro track opens up with the distinct feeling of an ethereal flautist amidst a small drum circle. At first the layers drift in gradually, dipping you gently into the depths of the music with the gentleness of a mother cradling her baby. Some echoed shamanic chanting and light tickling of piano ivories add soul to the conga beats and the synth are as lush as thunderheads full of summer rain. No storms approaching, though... this track calms the nerves and sets the brainwaves at an appropriate wavelength for the tracks that lie ahead.
Ilitqusia Agvigum
This second track picks you up at the junction where its forebearer left you off... like a potato curry quesadilla, East meets West at this crossroads of a musical piece with conga/tabla and female raga vocal elements and American Indian medicine man spellcasting and plucked dub/reggae bassline. Sprinkled on top of this soup of sound are hypnotic synthesizer alliterations and symphic string chords in the background. Reverbed precussion gives feelings of spaciousness... overall a great amalgam of ethnic styles.
Eastern Sunbreak
With a very ambient-ish opening, "Eastern Sunbreak" is relaxing on the mind, leading us in through curtains of gentle synths and a minimalized, dubby basslines. Harps pluck away soothing riffs as the staccato synths build in depth and layer. The pad chords strike different levels of the consciousness colorfully as sounds and singing fades in and out of the soundscape. Towards the end a little flute and dance mantras add the character of removal from modernism and civilization.
Universal Flow
Bouncing, nonthreatening synth intros lead us into a temple monastery where monks chant atonalities and a light breakbeat quantizes things for us... bells pan from left to right without pattern and clever kick/snare work lay the groundwork for emotive and slightly sharper acid sounds. An electric breakdown mellows out the slight bit of tension and motherly voices bring us back to the past from within closed eyelids and rejuvenate us for the returning beat and droning, flittering synth insects.
Inbetween Space
Heavy on Carribean and Reggae drumwork, "Inbetween Space" feels very dubby and heady... sterile, futuristic electronica and heavily filtered padwork keep one's head above the clouds. The sounds are reminiscent of alien telepathic lessons and the main lead falls down happily, like a slinky pushed down a flight of stairs. Perpetual Loop seems to be telling a story with this piece, and the journey through this soundscape is quite an odyssey in between the chillspace!
Be Happy
Coming into the latter half of "Universal Flow", this track starts out with a bittersweet array of tones and pads... but it doesn't stay that way! The most uptempo and electro track so far on this album by far, "Be Happy" features groovy basstones and reverbed, roomy drum beats. Plenty of flange and filter keep things changing and interesting and the lead adds moodiness... this track has a sort of discontented beginning half, but through masterful synthwork blossoms into melody after a breakdown which leaves us floating disconnectedly while the message is conveyed. Great piano work here... this track is very uplifting, as the name implies!
Indifferent World
The sound definitely begins to branch out in the latter tracks, and this one is no exception... housey with a thickly filtered four-on-the-floor beat, "Indifferent World" is serious sexelectro... sultry vocals charged by the buzzing synth leads pave the way for an industrial, metallic percussion arrangement towards the end and morphs into a breakbeat briefly before assuming its former shape. Perpetual Loop combines the ancient with the ultramodern to give us a panoramic, timeless view of the world's culture through music from afar.
Moment of Clarity
The intro here is slightly scary... making hairs stand on end from feelings of curious trepidation. the beat is abstract and dreamlike, but before you worry about it turning to a nightmare, it all fades away to a beautiful piano solo. The beat remains similar, with quickly echoed drum and high-hat bits but the ominous, malevolent sound elements are replaced with high-pitched strings and heavenly chords. Once you've been brought to your peak, a lush bassline eases you gently back into your body as this track exits, with a refreshing, confident air.
Spirit
"Spirit" has already been getting play on Organic's recent compilation "Psymeditation2" and fits perfectly within the context of the rest of this CD... at once melodic, chilled, dubby and evocative, this track is the perfect cure for distressed or depressed moods. Calm tones cradle you nurturingly and bubbly noises seem to sit inside you, percolating and with the texture of an audio massage. Play this track when you're feeling blue and you're guaranteed to feel better... Perpetual Loop is a veritable Mozart of downtempo electronica and is a master at creating pleasing moods and musical settings to enjoy, and this is one of them.
To The Voices In My Head
The final track on this album merges seamlessly with its predecessor, this track seems a continuation of "Spirit" and, as the name implies, seems to take a contemplative, introspective turn about midway through and leaves the listener in ponderance as Perpetual Loop draws this musical saga to a close. Questioning voices in a calm summer night's rain make a perfect ending and almost seem like a "moral" to the story. Overall a great ending to a well put together album of music which crosses so many boundaries.
Organic and Perpetual Loop have struck again here, having teamed up to provide the world with yet another flavor which will surely have its tundric vibrations felt in chillout rooms and outdoor events across the globe this summer. Charles Massey's musical expertise has led to a solid album and has helped him forge his own signature style and take on downtempo chillout electronica with just this one debut album. The pianowork and strings ensembles alone make these tracks a must-listen, but combined with lovingly twisted synths and digital sounds and beats hearkening from nearly forgotten corners of the world makes it even better. "Universal Flow" is distinctly a step away from the cookie-cutter dubtronica downtempo heard so much these days... be sure to check this out while it out while it's at its freshest!
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Two new tracks to be released on two record labels. Uxmal Records (Mexico) and Lookinglook records (Ukraine). More info when I have it.
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